Press Box: IN BRIEF

In Brief

July 27, 2008

*AUTO RACING: Scott Dixon took another big step toward a second IndyCar championship Saturday, holding off Helio Castroneves, his closest pursuer, for a victory in the Rexall Edmonton Indy in Edmonton, Alberta. Castroneves kept the pressure on Dixon lap after lap but nearly slid off course on worn out tires six laps from the end, allowing the New Zealander to cruise to his fifth victory of the season. On Lap 78, Marco Andretti hit teammate Danica Patrick from behind, causing her to stall and damaging both cars. According to an SI.com report, the Andretti Green Racing team held a closed-door meeting after the race. Andretti did not comment afterward, and Patrick said, "Marco is my teammate, and I know he wouldn't do things on purpose, so it's all good."

*BOXING: Antonio Margarito stopped Miguel Cotto in the 11th round, putting the first loss on Cotto's record and claiming the WBA's 147-pound title.

Margarito (37-5, 27 KOs), a Mexican star often ducked by the division's best fighters in recent years, dropped the Puerto Rican champion twice in the 11th round to win his third title belt. It was the first title defense for Cotto (32-1).

*WNBA: Tina Thompson scored 16 points for the host Houston Comets, who beat the Sky 79-65. Candice Dupree led the Sky with a season-high-tying 28 points. and Jia Perkins added 15. The loss was the seventh straight on the road for the Sky.